Sanitary pocket-cuspidor.



No. 735,043. PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

J. TOBIN, DEGD.

A. TOBIN, ADMINISTRATRIX.

SANITARY POCKET CUSPIDOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4. 1902.

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UNITED STATES Patented Ll'uly 2S, 1903 PAT NT QFFICE.

JOHN TOBIN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK; ALICIA TOBIN, ADMINIS'IRATRIX OF SAID JOHN TOBIN, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JULIUS E.

SIEGEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SANITARY POCKET-CU'SPIDOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 735,043, dated July 28, 1903. Application filed January 4, 1902. Serial llo. 88,423. (No model.)

To to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN TOBIN, a citiien of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sanitary Pocket-Cuspidors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cuspidors; and it consists, substantially, in the improvements hereinafter particularly described.

As is well known, diseases of the skin and blood are frequently contracted by contagion of some part of the person with unhealthy mucus in the handling of cuspidors or spittoons, and likewise lung and pulmonary diseases are also often contracted through the spread of micro-organisms or germs-always present in the putrefactive processes which generally take place in cuspidors and similar vessels when allowed to stand for a time after being used. Particularly is this the case in sleeping apartments, as well as in hospitalwards and other similar rooms or places, and considerable difficulty is frequently experienced by doctors, nurses, and others by reason of such fact. Science has likewise proven that diseases are often contracted from similar causes in public places and conveyances, and it is beyond question that there is altogether too much spitting or expectorating in public. Even in the necessities of consumptives and other diseased persons the dangers referred to may be considerably lessened or reduced by only a little precaution on their part, and at the same time annoyance and inconvenience to others will also be reduced in great measure.

The invention has for its object to provide a cuspi'dor which may be conveniently carried in the pocket without leakage of its contents and one also which may be readily brought into use and again concealed in the pocket with facility.

A further object is to provide a pocketcuspidor which is practically odorless when closed and which is also simple in construction and comparatively cheap to manufacture.

These and additional objects are attained by means substantially such as are employed in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of my improved cuspidor with the lid or cover thereof in open position, and Fig. 2 is a top plan view with the lid or cover removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view in detail of the casing of the cuspidor and showing the means employed for throwing the lid or cover open on release of the catch which holds the same in closed position. Fig. 4 is substantially a similarlview to Fig. 3 minus the lid portion and showing the construction and organization of the catch for the lid or cover, together with the detent or locking device for said catch.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description it may bestated that my improved cuspidor comprises a casing of convenient size to be carried about the personsay in the pocket-and provided with a hinged lid or cover, together with devices for holding the lid in closed position and other devices for throwin g the same to open position on release thereof. Located within the casing is a. removable receiver for spittle or expectorations, and this element of my improved cuspidor is preferably made of some cheap material which may be readily consumed by fire, as paper or papier-mach,and isintended to be so destroyed, together with itscontents, after the same has become filled in use, a new receiver being placed in the casing for each one destroyed. The said casing, combined with its lid, is of practicable depth, and I provide special means whereby the receiver is held immovably in the casing, the said means also per- 8 5 forming other functions, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. Suitable means "are also provided whereby the sealing of the inlet or mouth of the receiver is effected each time the lid of the casing is closed and secured, and it will be found that my improvements are thoroughly efiective for their purpose.

Specific reference being had to the accompanying drawings by the designating characters marked thereon, 0 represents my improved cuspidor in entirety, the same comprising,preferably,ametal casingconstructed with a circular bottom 15 and a surrounding upstanding wall 16, said wall being bulged outwardly all around the upper edge thereof, as indicated at 14, thus forming an annular internal recess in the wall, and seated in said recess is a correspondingly-shaped annulus or ring a, which is constructed all around with an inwardly-projecting stepped flange b and a vertical edge 0, intermediate the ring and flange, as shown. The said ring is for the purpose of imparting increased strength to the upper part of the wall of the casing, and the construction just described is such as to also enable the flange b to be conveniently located Within the casing, as is apparent. The function of said flange bis to maintain in immovable position within the easing a receiver A for spittle or expectorations, the said receiver being preferably formed with a dished or sunken top portion 6, having a mouth or inlet 7 and being of size to be snugly received within or encircled by the edge of the flange. The receiver is preferably of greater height than the wall of the casing to increase its capacity, and the same is made considerably less in diameter than the diameter of the casing, so as not to interfere with the closing of the lid B of the casing, said lid being hinged to the edge of the wall 16, as indicated at 13. Seated upon the flange b and against the vertical edge 0 of the annulus or ring a, at one side of the casing, is a curved spring 18, having a spring-lip 18, which exerts a constant pressure upon the hinge l3 and tends to force or throw the lid B to the open position thereof, (indicated in Fig. 1,) and also seated upon said flange in like manner at the opposite side of the casing (see dotted lines, Fig. 2) is a similar spring l7,.formed at an end thereof with a vertical catch 17, designed to engage a portion of the flanged edge e of the lid when the latter is closed, said catch being located substantially opposite the hinge 13, as shown. To enable the catch to be pressed inwardly and be thereby released from engagement with the lid, I provide a stem 9, the inner end of which is in connection with the catch (see Fig. 4) and the projecting outer end of which is provided with a head 19, adapted to be pressed upon by the thumb or finger to operate said catch in the manner and for the purpose explained. The said stern works in a bearing 25 therefor, projecting from the wall 16, and said bearing is preferably provided with a hinged ring 20 to enable the cuspidor to be readily taken hold of and handled. To prevent the catch from being disengaged accidentally by pressure on the stem 9, I sometimes provide a small movable bolt 21, supported in perforated lugs m m, formed on the annulus or ring a at one side of the catch, said bolt being formed with a thumb or finger piece 23 at one end and at the other end with a cranked portion 22, which may be moved into the working path of the catch, at the inner side thereof, by properly operating said bolt. W'hen so moved, the said cranked portion becomes a resistance against the inward movement of the catch under pressure upon the stem, as is apparent. As a closure for the mouth or inlet 7 of the receiver A, I provide a stopper 8, having a pin 11 therein, the latter being threaded, as shown, and screwing into a threaded opening therefor in a boss 12, formed centrally of the lid on its inner side. When thus constructed, it will be seen that my improved cuspidor is simple and comparatively inexpensive to make and also that the same is thoroughly eflective for its purpose. As already explained, the receiver is formed of cheap material, it being the intention to manufacture and sell the same in quantities, so that a new one may be supplied for each one thrown away and destroyed after becoming filled.

It will of course be understood that immaterial changes may be made in the construction and organization of the several parts herein shown without departing from my invention.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A pocket-cuspidor comprising a casing having a wall and a lid, and a hinge connecting the two, said wall being bulged outwardly at its upper edge all around to form an inner annular recess, a correspondingly-constructed ring fitted in said recess and formed all around with an inwardly-projecting stepped flange, and with a continuous edge intermediate said ring and flange, a castaway combustible receiver in the casing having an inlet and closely encircled by the flange, a curved spring seated on the flange against said edge on one side of the casing and having a lip pressing against the hinge and tending to force the lid to open position, a stopper on the lid for closing the inlet of the receiver, a similarly-curved spring seated on the flange against said edge at the opposite side of the casing, and having a catch for engaging the lid in closed position, and means adapted to be moved into the path of said catch for preventing accidental operation thereof. 2. A pocket-cuspidor comprising a casing having a wall and a lid, said wall being bulged outwardly atits upper edge all around to form an inner annular recess, a correspondingly-constructed ring fitted in said recess and formed all around with an inwardlyprojecting stepped flange, and with a continuous edge intermediate said ring and flange, a castaway combustible receiver in the casing having an inlet closely encircled by the flange, a curved spring seated on the flange against said edge on one side of the casing and having a lip pressing against the hinge and tending to force the lid to open ICC position, a stopper on the lid for closing the crank adapted to be moved into the path of inlet of the receiver, a similarlycurved the catch to prevent accidental operation of spring seated on the flange against said edge said stem.

at the opposite side of the casing, and hav- JOHN TOBIN. ing a catch for engaging the lid in closed po- Witnesses:

sition, a stem for operating the catch to re- EDWARD E. ELLIS,

lease the lid, and a movable bolt having a FRED. J. DOLE. 

